Chicago | Reuters — U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed halting funding for rural clean water initiatives and reducing county-level staff, for a 21 per cent drop in discretionary spending at the Department of Agriculture (USDA), according to a White House budget document. The $4.7 billion in cuts would leave USDA with a budget of […] Read more
Trump budget plan cuts USDA food, rural water funding
The downside of farm subsidies
Government money is usually welcomed but those who take it soon learn it can come with a heavy price
Reading Time: 3 minutes There are certain aspects of farming around the globe that are subsidized either directly or indirectly. In the world of trade, these are sensitive issues. For example, what is the true level of subsidization in China? How does it enhance its competitive advantage? What is the real cost of production? We have many guests in […] Read more
France says EU orders repayment of $1.5B in ag subsidies
Paris | Reuters — The European Commission has asked France to repay 1.1 billion euros (C$1.54 billion) of farm subsidies dating back to 2008-2012, the French agriculture ministry said Tuesday. The Commission’s claim, which mainly relates to inaccurate declarations of farm area, initially amounted to around 3.5 billion euros before being negotiated down by France, […] Read more
U.S. farmers set for huge government payouts despite bumper harvest
Washington/Chicago | Reuters –– U.S. farmers are about to reap a bumper harvest not just in corn and soybeans but also in new subsidies that could soar to US$10 billion, blowing a hole in the government’s promise that its new five-year farm bill would save taxpayers money. If payments for 2014, the first year the […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
